MISENHEIMER, N.C. Ė Pfeiffer University dropped a 3-1 (24-30, 30-27, 17-30, 27-30) decision to Eastern Mennonite University in non-conference menís volleyball on Friday night inside the Merner Gym. The victory sends the Royals to 5-8 on the year while the Falcons dip to 4-6.

Trailing early 4-1 on an Alex Rivero (Miami, FL) ace, Pfeiffer battled back to a 10-9 deficit after an Evan Fullerton (Ambridge, PA) kill. Micah Borthner (Dallastown, PA) had one of his match-high 21 kills on the night to again bring the Falcons to within one at 15-14 halfway through the first set. Eastern Mennonite closed out the opener on five kills by Rivero and two, including the clincher, by Cody Kennedy (Newport News, VA).

Pfeiffer bounced back for a 30-27 win in set two after trailing late 20-16. Bortner pushed the Falcons to a 21-all tie with Eric Edelman (Henrietta, NY) before a Blake Dowdle (Farmington, NY) ace gave Pfeiffer the lead for good on the very next point. A Royals timeout couldnít stop the Falcons as Bortner picked up four kills in the final few plays, including the last two, squaring the match 1-1.

Rivero helped the Royals jumped out to a furious 9-2 lead in set three serving during a seven point EMU stretch. Kennedy and Rivero led the way through the middle portion of the stanza with another ace and kill before Justin Reesor (Stouffville, ONTARIO) picked up the setís final kill.

The fourth set started off 9-7 in favor of the Falcons on a throw down by Kyle Mariano (Kendall Park, NJ) and service ace by Dowdle. Pfeiffer held that advantage to 20-17 until the Royals made their final comeback. A kill by John Barry (Worthington, OH), Falcon timeout and kill by Colten New (Richmond, VA) tied the contest up 22-22. After New and Reesor scored before and after the second Falcon timeout, Frankie Coto (Miami, FL) and Reesor finished off the comeback with a pair of kills for a 30-27 victory and 3-1 match win.

Pfeiffer hits the road now for several contests not playing their next home match until April 1st. The Falcons start the road trip off tomorrow in a Conference Carolinas matchup at Lees-McRae beginning at 1:00 p.m.